What does reasonable mean?

Definitions for reasonable
ˈri zə nə bəl, ˈriz nə-rea·son·able

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word reasonable.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. reasonable, sensibleadjective

    showing reason or sound judgment

    "a sensible choice"; "a sensible person"

  2. fair, fairish, reasonableadjective

    not excessive or extreme

    "a fairish income"; "reasonable prices"

  3. reasonable, saneadjective

    marked by sound judgment

    "sane nuclear policy"

Wiktionary

  1. reasonableadjective

    Just; fair; agreeable to reason.

  2. reasonableadjective

    Satisfactory.

  3. Etymology: resnable, from rationabilis, more at reason, -able.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. Reasonableadjective

    Etymology: raison, Fr.

    She perceived her only son lay hurt, and that his hurt was so deadly, as that already his life had lost use of the reasonable and almost sensible part. Philip Sidney.

    The parliament was dissolved, and gentlemen furnished with such forces, as were held sufficient to hold in bridle either the malice or rage of reasonable people. John Hayward.

    A law may be reasonable in itself, although a man does not allow it, or does not know the reason of the lawgivers. Jonathan Swift.

    Let all things be thought upon,
    That may with reasonable swiftness add
    More feathers to our wings. William Shakespeare, Henry V.

    I could with reasonable good manner receive the salutation of her and of the princess Pamela, doing them yet no further reverence than one princess oweth to another. Philip Sidney.

    A good way distant from the nigra rupes, there are four several lands of reasonable quantity. George Abbot, Descr. of the World.

    Notwithstanding these defects, the English colonies maintained themselves in a reasonable good estate, as long as they retained their own ancient laws. John Davies, on Ireland.

ChatGPT

  1. reasonable

    Reasonable, as an adjective, refers to having sound judgment, being fair and sensible in decisions and actions. It can also describe something as being moderate or within rational or acceptable limits. When describing people, it often implies that they are generally guided by logic and practicality rather than emotions.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Reasonablenoun

    having the faculty of reason; endued with reason; rational; as, a reasonable being

  2. Reasonablenoun

    governed by reason; being under the influence of reason; thinking, speaking, or acting rationally, or according to the dictates of reason; agreeable to reason; just; rational; as, the measure must satisfy all reasonable men

  3. Reasonablenoun

    not excessive or immoderate; within due limits; proper; as, a reasonable demand, amount, price

  4. Reasonableadverb

    reasonably; tolerably

Editors Contribution

  1. reasonable

    Created or governed by reason.

    The response is reasonable that optimum health is the priority for every person on the planet.


    Submitted by MaryC on June 29, 2020  


  2. reasonable

    The faculty of reason.

    The answer was reasonable and just.


    Submitted by MaryC on March 1, 2020  

British National Corpus

  1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'reasonable' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #1782

  2. Written Corpus Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'reasonable' in Written Corpus Frequency: #1277

  3. Adjectives Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'reasonable' in Adjectives Frequency: #213

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of reasonable in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of reasonable in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2

Examples of reasonable in a Sentence

  1. Josh Earnest:

    What we have sought is congressional cooperation to remove those obstacles so we could move forward in a reasonable way consistent with our national security interests, we haven't gotten it for years.

  2. Chun Yung-woo:

    It would be reasonable for the foreign ministry that has professional expertise and experiences to take over nuclear talks, the summit's joint statement simply heralded the start of working-level negotiations, where all key, complex issues will be discussed, including the timeline of the North's dismantlement, its verification and corresponding U.S. action.

  3. Matt Zeve:

    There’s no amount of infrastructure that we can put in a reasonable amount of time for a reasonable amount of money to prevent the flooding that occurred in Hurricane Harvey.

  4. Dan Dufour:

    It's more that he appeals to the moderates, he's a fiscalconservative, a very conservativecandidate buthe's appealing to the people outthere who are reasonable and wantgovernment moving forward.

  5. Ahmaud Arbery:

    This is why we have juries, because this may come down to whether this was a reasonable intervention.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

reasonable#1#2937#10000

Translations for reasonable

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"reasonable." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LTD, 2026. Web. 24 Jul 2026. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/reasonable>.

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